Network Address Translation (NAT)

Network Address Translation, or NAT, is a method used to translate IP addresses when traffic passes between different networks. NAT is commonly implemented on routers or firewalls to translate private IPv4 addresses within a local network into public IP addresses for internet communication. This allows multiple internal devices to share one or a limited number of public IPv4 addresses. Common variants include Static NAT, Dynamic NAT and Port Address Translation, or PAT. PAT additionally uses port numbers to distinguish connections from different devices. NAT helps organisations use the limited IPv4 address space more efficiently and conceals internal addressing structures from external networks. It is a fundamental component of many IPv4-based enterprise and home networks.